(The Last) 10 Day You Challenge/Quest: 1 Picture

Finally (and sadly, really) we come to the end of the 10-Day You Challenge/Quest. It has been a wonderful journey, inwards asking myself those questions posed by the challenge, and outwards upon reading the posts of my friends. Made a new friend, Sonali. Really nice knowing you Sonali. Had been in touch with Deepa but didn't know so much. Not surprising for she's a multi-faceted personality. But the biggest revelation was Swapna, someone "serious" me had observed at a distance in college as someone more mature and balanced than everyone in class, wanted to but didn't really know well. It's yet again a proof of how life has a way to close the loop. It was truly great reading so much about you Swapna, and recently when I saw a picture of you with your daughter in Facebook, having read your blogs, felt really happy. I think that's what the blog gave us, getting us closer to our selves and those who were on this journey with us. And for that, we all have to thank Deepa!

I know I've been the worst in publishing posts on time. But honestly it's because I love to write (if it wasn't obvious from these long, very long posts), and like to think about and digest what to write about. And I insist that when I sit to write (like now), the words just flow out, be spontaneous. Obviously I re-read and correct/edit things before publishing. But all this is still no excuse for being a late-lateef. Sorry.

And frankly speaking, midway through I lost that image we had to remind us of what's for next week. So I'd read one of your conversations and figure out what's for next week. And that is partly to blame why I thought today's post is about "One Picture" and not "One Picture of yourself". Kind of makes sense actually, considering this to be a challenge open to an arbit group of people who take this blogging journey together, to finally see the person they know so much about...
So when I was thinking of "One Picture" I was closing in on The Scream, a painting that keeps coming to mind when idle and wanting to think of something. What exactly inspired Edvard Munch, or what life did his creation take? Is it the scream of horror upon the bloodied sky in the background; the "scream" we all feel within upon seeing strangers approaching (on the way in life), for we all by nature are by ourselves, and actually need others only because of the environment; or is it the shudder of being born (notice the central character is  in a fetal image), also viewed by some as a ghostly image again conveying fear. But all this is irrelevant...
"One Picture of Yourself" is a whole different ball game for a guy. Mainly 'cos I (and I think most guys) don't care about our pics, or how they come out, or where they are.So I'll point you guys to my profile pics on Blogger, Facebook and Google Plus..the three put together characterize me, if that is achievable:
Blogger Pic: I like being formal, a certain decency, and close friends know I don't loosen up unless in their company or when engrossed in something, even acting/singing. Yet don't want to look formal, and hence the pic with a suit, but a t-shirt within.
Google+ Pic: Left to myself I'll just grow a beard, and spend a life studying music and math in company of nature. To me even the mention is tempting, of leading a spartan, reclusive life. Guess that's why I like my Google+ photo
Facebook Pic: I lean a little on religion, proud of the original Hinduism and being born into it, and hold my family dear, which for me foremost is  now obviously my wife.And hence the Facebook pic, taken in front of the Aurora Balaji temple in Chicago, with me and Jyothi having Chandan-kuri on our foreheads, pleases me.

At this point, I feel it only natural to share with my friends that we are expecting. Jyothi just crossed 12 weeks. Our baby is on the way :-)
Please pray for all three of us.

And thank you for reading...and I really enjoyed reading all your posts too, so thanks for that too!
Hope we can continue this pen-pals thing going in some form. Enjoy maadi :-)